Our current decade has enjoyed some standoutRPGreleases that have achieved both commercial and critical success. These genre-defining titles have often exceeded expectations and pushed back against the falling quality in triple-A games.
TheRPGgenre is one of the most beloved in gaming, with long-running franchises still going strong. These deeply immersive games place players in fantastical worlds where they must explore, fight, and grow stronger. From challenging, fast-paced combat to strategic turn-based battles, RPGs push players to become the hero of their epic story acrossexpansive and richly populated worlds.
While many of the titles on this list fall into triple-A territory,Omoriis a smaller indie offering that hits above its weight. The game follows a nonverbal hikikomori teenager named Sunny and his alter-ego, Omori, through both the real and dream worlds he lives in. Based on a webcomic series, the game’s turn-based combat and narrative explore themes of depression, anxiety, and trauma.
The game receivedpraise for its writingand effective exploration of dark subject matter. The game includes elements of psychological horror and traditional RPG mechanics, where the four playable characters explore and battle across the two varied realms.Omori’s combat differs from standard RPGs, with the character’s emotional state affecting the action as the battle progresses.
This excellent sci-fi RPG puts players in control of a Sleeper, a human whose mind has been digitized and placed into a robot. Sleepers are then placed in indentured servitude to a large corporation. The story takes place after the player character has escaped.
Citizen Sleeperis a slow-paced yetimmersive RPG. During each in-game day, the player rolls several dice, the results of which can be used to complete different actions during the game. The goal is to escape and survive the space station known as The Eye. WhileCitizen Sleeperdoesn’t have the action of bigger titles, this vibrant and well-written narrative game is a must-play for fans of the RPG genre.
Warhammer 40k: Rogue Traderis the first CRPG video game set in theWarhammer 40ksetting. Players take control of a newly elevated Rogue Trader as they travel across a vast region of space, uncovering secrets, heretics, and Xenos plots. The game features a comprehensive list of character classes, character origins, weapons, abilities, and upgrades. The companions the player meets along the way are diverse and fun, with an equally large number of options for leveling.
WhileRogue Trader’s turn-based combat isn’t for everyone, fans of the genre and40kwill delight in the detailed universe created here. Players can decide their allegiances, choosing from either a heretical, dogmatic, or iconoclast path while navigating the many intrigues anddangers of the 41st millennium.
Octopath Traveler 2brings a taste of nostalgia with its simplepixel art stylereminiscent of genre classics such asDragon Questor the originalFinal Fantasygames. The game returns to the familiar format ofOctopath Traveler, where players follow eight separate characters on their journeys across the modern world of Solistia. The player chooses one of the eight at the start of a playthrough.
The game features fun turn-based combat, familiar to JRPG fans, with each character using a different play style.Octopath Traveler 2blends traditional RPG mechanics with modern quality-of-life elements, making for an immersive and addictive role-playing experience.
The originalKingdom Come: Deliverancewas an imperfect cult classic. The story followed the story of Henry, a blacksmith’s son living in Medieval Europe. After his family is killed, Henry embarks on an adventure into a dangerous world on a mission of vengeance.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2continues Henry’s journey, expanding on the detailed and comprehensive role-playing mechanics that made the original a joy to play.Kingdom Comedepicts a realistic settingwhere the player must develop the knowledge and skills to survive in the large open world. While this well-written RPG can be tough for new players, as many mechanics take practice to perfect,Kingdom Come: Deliverance IIis a fantastic time that promises a rewarding adventure around every corner.
This fantastic installment in the action RPGXenoblade Chroniclesis set in Aionios, where the nation’s Keves and Agnus are locked in a perpetual war. The game follows the story of Noah and Mio and their two groups of friends, who discover they are all connected by a power known as Ouroboros.
Players control a party of six characters across an expansive open world, battling enemies as they go. Players can switch between each character during combat, allowing for different play styles as characters' abilities can be interlinked.Xenoblade Chronicles 3is a fun and colorful game that will appeal to fans of the series. Its epic-scale narrative and world offer hours of exploration, as secrets are uncovered and new abilities gained.
Originally released in 2009,Demon’s Soulsmarked the beginning of FromSoftware’sSoulsborneseries and the signature style they would become famous for. The game revolves around the player character exploring the cursed kingdom of Boletaria on a mission to rid the land of the Old One.
While theSoulsseries would find success later withDark Souls,Demon’s Soulsremained a fondly remembered cult classic. However, in 2020, Bluepoint Games released theDemon’s Soulsremake to widespread acclaim. Remade from the ground up, this new version improved on the original entirely, with new items, streamlined gameplay, and a more comprehensive character creator.Demon’s Soulswas a huge success and allowed fans to experience the game that started the series.
This second in the planned trilogy ofFinal Fantasy 7remakes combines exciting action with strategy and RPG mechanics. TheFinal Fantasyseries is one of the longest-running and most successful video game franchises in history, withFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthbeing just the latest in a long line of classic titles.
The game continues on fromFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, with players controlling Cloud Strife as he and his companions battle against the Shinra megacorporation which is attempting to exploit the Planet’s life essence.Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthbrings action-packed combat across a vast open world with an engaging narrative that improves on its predecessor. Fans of the franchise will love this latest installment, which is both nostalgic and modern.
From the developers of the classicDark Soulsseries,Elden Ringis an epic open-world action RPG. The game follows the journey of the Tarnished, a player-made character who attempts to become Elden Lord and either save or damn the Lands Between.
Elden Ringis FromSoftware’s victory lap, taking all the elements from the beloved Soulsborne series and placing them in one stunning game. Challenging boss fights, mysterious NPCs, rich and detailed locations, andnumerous weapon and magicoptions come together to make an additive and timeless experience.Elden Ringwould shake up the gaming industry at a time when predatory monetization had become the norm in mainstream AAA titles. It would win numerous awards and be a commercial success, becoming FromSoftware’s bestselling game.
Known for their immersive fantasy RPGs, Larian Studios scored a huge hit with the third installment of theBaldur’s Gatefranchise. Set in theDungeons and Dragonsuniverse, in the Forgotten Realms,Baldur’s Gate 3takes players on an epic adventure where players have an unprecedented level of choice. Quests can be completed in numerous ways, with certain actions affecting the outcome.
The game revolves around the player character and their party seeking a way to free themselves of the Mind Flayer parasite they receive at the start of the game. The game offers an impressive amount of freedom. The character creation offers 12 classes and 46 subclasses to choose from. This gives players a huge variety of choices in how to navigate the game’s many diverse quests.Baldur’s Gate 3is one of the best RPG video games ever released and would win numerous accolades, including 5 Game of the Year awards.
